Page 13 of All the Gossip from Paris
“Thank you. I appreciate your efforts.”
She escorted the staff member to the door. As soon as she had closed it, Sophie grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie from the dining room table. After tearing off the price tags, she went in search of Liam.
He was standing in the main bedroom gazing out the window taking in the New York City lights when Sophie walked through the door. Memories of what Camille had said about Ryan being uncomfortable with having expensive clothes given to him, had her approaching Liam with care and caution.
“They managed to find some clothes for you. I will leave them here.” She waited until he’d turned around before laying the garments on the bed. “Take your time trying them on. If anything doesn’t fit, we can ask the team to change it.”
His gaze settled on the clothes. “So how does this work? I mean, I wear them tonight and they go back to the store tomorrow?”
It took all her strength not to laugh at such a preposterous notion. The idea of returning clothes once they’d been worn was out of the question. More recollections of what her sister had said about her and Ryan’s early fashion exchanges slipped into Sophie’s mind.
Ryan didn’t want to feel like he was a kept man.
From what she’d understood things had become a little strained when the press and social media had gone ahead and branded Ryan as Camille’s cute toyboy.
“The clothes are yours Liam. Consider them a gift from a member of Camille’s family. No strings attached. Just me being a friend.”
That didn’t sound at all weird now, did it?
“I don’t wish to appear ungrateful or rude, Sophie. Believe me that is the last thing I would want. It’s just that I’m a bit uncomfortable with all this …”
He pulled his hands out from where they’d been stuffed into his jeans pockets, and waved them in the direction of the designer garments. “I usually buy my clothes from outlet stores or at Walmart. The labels I own are not the sort of ones you’d find in a department store. Especially not one which offers after hours sales service.”
Liam had his pride. Who was she to try and take it from him? To buy him.
“I tell you what. If you don’t feel right taking the clothes I’ve bought you, how about we make a trade.”
A trade was the only thing that made any sense. The last thing she wanted was for Liam to feel like he’d been pressured into accepting her gift. If they did agree on an exchange, then hopefully he wouldn’t feel like it was all one sided. That she was taking his power.
“What sort of trade?” he asked.
“Well. I. Um.” Sophie thought for a moment. What could Liam possibly offer her that she couldn’t just go and buy for herself?
Ah. Of course. I don’t want a thing. I want him.
“You are a photographer, and in exchange for you accepting these clothes …”
“Yes.”
“I would like you to photograph me.”
Before he’d had the chance to offer up his reply, Sophie had scooped up the clothes and shoved them into his arms. Liam staggered back a step.
One of his mother’s favorite movies was Titanic. Liam had sat and watched it with her more times that he cared to admit. So when Sophie mentioned the idea of him photographing her, he was left to wonder if she meant like the heroine had wanted Jack to do.
Like one of your French girls. In the nude.
“When you say photograph you …” he began.
Sophie was a strikingly beautiful woman. The idea of seeing her naked was tempting. Very tempting. Who knew where it could lead. But he’d learned that making assumptions was a dangerous thing for a man to do.
“What exactly do you mean Sophie?”
Sophie’s brows furrowed for a moment, and then her eyes went wide. She laughed. “Oh, no I don’t mean that sort of photography. I meant with clothes on.”
Her cheeks had gone bright red. Liam’s heart went out to her. He’d made her uncomfortable. If he didn’t do something and quick, this evening could end before it began.
He glanced at the clothes in his arms. “I should go put these on. Once I’m back we could settle in the living room, and discuss my photographic services.”
